Rajasthan

Imagine the excitement, splendour and magic of a land where sandcastles are 12th century forts of intricately carved sandstone with 99 bastions rising from the desert floor. Rajasthan is a land dominated by ancient cities, floating palaces, towering forts, finely carved temples and iconic mausoleums. The landscape to offers a diverse wealth of arid desert, wild jungle, ancient hill ranges and vast mirrored lakes.

The cities of ‘Rajputana’ Land of The Kings sits at the heart of northern India bordering Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The reason Rajasthan remains one of the most popular destinations for the intrepid traveler lies in its rich diversity: from the terrain of the Aravalli Hill Range to the barren Thar Desert, the wildlife of Ranthambore National Park to the tranquil majesty of Udaipur, the city of lakes, Rajasthan truly has it all.

To really soak up the Rajasthani atmosphere attend one of its famous festivals where the cities burst into life. Visit Pushkar Camel Fair, where thousands of vibrantly attired villagers converge on the sacred lake to barter livestock; as they have done for thousands of years. Or there is the more recent Rajasthan international Folk Festival in Jodhpur (Jodhpur RIFF), of which Mick Jagger is the Patron, and the evocative Sufi festival set in the majestic and little known Ahhichatragarh Fort in Nagaur. The well-established Jaipur Literary Festival draws literary giants from across the globe and is open for all to attend.

Rajasthan is the state of many colours: from the rich greenery of the National wildlife parks, home to the elusive Bengal Tiger and exotic birdlife, to the’ ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur, home to the Amber Fort, reached by elephant back, and to Jodhpur, the ‘Blue City’ dominated by the impressive Mehrangarh Fort. The Golden city of Jaisalmer really does impress, as one of the world’s oldest living fortified cities, its ramparts rising up out of the Thar desert.

Hotels in Rajasthan

Go in search of the perfect palace retreat in the royal state of Rajasthan home of the erstwhile Rajput rulers. Probably the most famous is the utterly unique marble, Taj Lake Palace in Udaipur, which sits shimmering on Lake Pichola. Travel to Jodhpur and live the true jazz age with the impressive Art Deco Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, which really is fit for a king, as the Maharajah of Jodhpur still resides there today.

Rajasthan really does have a palace to suit all tastes, from cool contemporary interiors of the pale 18th Century Devi Garh, Delwara, to the quirky old world charm of Bal Samand Lake Palace, a tiny county retreat on the outskirts of Jodhpur. Jaipur, the state capital will leave you spoilt for choice from the grand Taj Rambagh Palace to the smaller ornate Samode Palace and tiny Diggi Palace - home of the annual Jaipur Literary festival.